Illinois Budget 11.21.08

Friday

Nov 21, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 21, 2008 at 8:23 PM

Illinois Budget 11.21.08

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

BEST OF GATEHOUSE 2008: Submissions are currently being sought for the Best of GateHouse 2008 editorial awards. See more details at:
http://www.ghnewsroom.com/news.php?newsid=1227275043

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT

Hy-Vee celebrates employee’s 100th birthday

GALESBURG – Alice Lawson says when she tells friends her father is 100, most ask which nursing home he is in. Most are surprised that Ernie Higgins of Knoxville not only is not in a nursing home, he still works about 16 hours a week. By John R. Pulliam of the Galesburg Register-Mail.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x776455351

STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. POSTED.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1720664328

For Sunday:

Statehouse Insider: By Doug Finke of the State Capitol bureau. POSTED. For use Sunday.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x466665903

Daily:

BUDGET MESS-Q&A: Gov. Rod Blagojevich continued the budget game with state lawmakers this week, again chopping millions of dollars in spending and leaving rapidly approaching layoffs and park and historic site closings in limbo. Here's a closer look at the latest back-and-forth, what fallout it could cause and what's up next with the budget. By Ryan Keith of the State Capitol bureau. With a sidebar looking at interest groups' reaction to the governor's action and a breakout of lawmakers' take on the budget situation. POSTED.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1772958246

Brokaw pays tribute to Downing, veterans

PEORIA – Wayne Allen Downing. Translated, that name means duty, honor, country, one of the most recognizable and renowned TV newsman of this era said Thursday. Downing, a Peoria native and a retired four-star general who died unexpectedly last summer, "gave so much of his life and public service to this country and yet never forgot the place from which he came," former NBC "Nightly News" anchor Tom Brokaw said while sharing memories of Downing. Brokaw, temporary moderator of the Sunday political talk show "Meet the Press," talked about Downing, who also was his friend, at Goodwill Industries' Veterans Recognition Dinner in the Civic Center ballroom. By Karen McDonald of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1751725579

Deer me, it’s that time of year for hunters

The car heading north on U.S. 67 toward Macomb last Saturday stopped dead in the middle of the road. The driver’s head craned in the direction of a harvested cornfield to his left. Standing tall, less than 100 yards off the highway, in the company of three does, was a nice buck. His antlers — at least a dozen points — stretched skyward. The cornfield buck could focus on his courting rituals then. But that changed Friday, when about 200,000 hunters clad in bright orange hats and vests swarmed into Illinois woods and fields for the first weekend of firearm deer-hunting season. By Chris Young of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1772957867

Former Weather Underground leader Ayers speaks at Monmouth College

MONMOUTH --Former Weather Underground leader William Ayers — who was called an "unrepentant terrorist" in several campaign ads prior to the presidential election — spoke for the third time in four years at Monmouth College Thursday. By Matt Hutton of the Monmouth Review Atlas.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1720663981

Felony weapons charges against Peterson dismissed

JOLIET – A Will County judge dismissed two felony gun charges against Drew Peterson on Thursday after a prosecutor refused to comply with an order to turn state records over to the defense. By Danya Hooker of Suburban Life Publications.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1772957870

ILLINOIS BUSINESS
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois_business

Museum displays one-of-a-kind JFK artifacts

ROSCOE – Wayne Lensing is a man with a passion for cars, history and auctions. In commemoration of the 45th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Lensing, owner of Historic Auto Attractions, will debut newly procured artifacts that will be added Saturday to the museum’s permanent collection. By Betsy Lopez Fritscher of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1751725556

Etiquette experts give tips on surviving lines

ROCKFORD – When it comes to waiting in line, the best ground rules are those taught in kindergarten: no cuts, no loud talking and no shoving. Even the most devoted cybershopper or mail-order catalog enthusiast is going to encounter at least one long, seemingly unmoving line this holiday season. Although few find them fun, there are ways to make the experience more bearable for yourself and for your line neighbors. By Sean F. Driscoll of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x776455249

ROCKFORD – Students in Lynette Wilson’s fifth-grade class were captivated by the storyteller who recounted how doctors stuck 6-inch needles in his neck and throat — part of the treatment for cancer that he developed after smoking for decades. By Cathy Bayer of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x466665402

Study: Lung function test might help smokers quit

ROCKFORD – A simple, doctor’s office-based test can help move smokers through the process of deciding to quit. That was the preliminary finding of a report co-authored by University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford assistant professor Dr. Robert Bales and presented this week at the North American Primary Care Research Group annual meeting in advance of Thursday’s 33rd annual observance of the Great American Smokeout. By Mike DeDoncker of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1720663932

BRITT: Toon on a possible bailout of the Big Three.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1720663941

Wood on Words: Sit down to a meal of Turkey Day terms

Many people will be sitting down this week to a feast of turkey with all the trimmings. The traditional Thanksgiving meal also offers a varied menu for the word person.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/columnists/barry_wood/x1751725531

Elizabeth Davies: Will GPS show me the way?

I’m really a map kind of girl. You have to be, in my line of work. Editors don’t take kindly to journalists who can’t dig up even basic information, such as how to get from Point A to Point B. Surely, they reason, a reporter is not going to uncover the next Watergate if she can’t even find the nearest Walgreens. Alas, I think the paper street map is fighting a losing battle. It is, after all, being replaced by the increasingly popular GPS.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/opinions/columnists/elizabeth_davies/x541360776

Jerry Moore: Taxpayers getting taken during economic catastrophe

In the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, is it possible we are being fleeced by our own government out of nearly $1 trillion?
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x466665375

Dave Bakke: Small-town auto dealer has the answer for Big Three

Waverly is a long way from Detroit and the Big Three automakers. And T&S Auto Sales in Waverly is a long way from needing a bailout from the government. “It’s not the best year we’ve ever had,” says Tom Thompson (the “T” in T&S), “but it’s close.” How can this be? Sales of cars are supposed to be tanking. Dealerships are stuck with big inventories. It’s gloom. It’s doom.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x466665384

Thanks to J.P. Hayes, this has been a good week. Hayes is a pro golfer who reported himself for inadvertently violating a rule during a tournament last week in Texas. He was disqualified. By failing to place, Hayes also lost his chance to earn a PGA Tour card for the 2009 season. A tough week for Hayes' earning potential. A good week for his character. A great week for all of us to take stock of who we are and what we ought to be.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x466665322

Jeff Lampe: Hunters eager for shotgun start

When a female bank teller chatted me up about deer season it hit me. This one still has zing. Opening weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season still gets people talking, still sends boys and men to bed dreaming. While most hunting openers fly under the radar, shotgun season looms large.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x466665319

Illinois junior quarterback Juice Williams can't shake the feeling of two years ago, when he sat home following his freshman season and watched the bowl games on TV. He doesn't want to experience that again. By John Supinie.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/big_10/x1751725504

For Sunday:

GAME STORY: Coverage of Illinois-Northwestern football game in Evanston.By John Supinie. Kickoff at 2:30 p.m.
Story with quotes and report card moving by 8.
Report card. Analysis of Illinois' performance.
Notebook. Reaction from Illinois locker room.

BASKETBALL: Preview of Illinois-Jackson State game Sunday. With preview capsule. By John Supinie. Moving Saturday afternoon.

For Monday editions:

ILLINI BASKETBALL: Game coverage with report card of Illinois-Jackson State game. Tipoff 4:30. Copy moving by 8. By John Supinie.

ILLINI FOOTBALL: Follow up on Illinois-Northwestern football game. By John Supinie.

BEARS:

Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star will be writing an opponent feature and game preview for Sunday’s Bears-Rams game in St. Louis. POSTED.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/sports/pro/football/bears/x1720664127